Living with a Massage Therapist

Lowri - I was limping a little bit tonight and TM noticed (Kevin and I had been playing hard).  She went to the bedroom and lifted Kevin up onto the bed.  I came running too.  We all snuggled for a bit.  TM was on her side petting on us.  Then she put her hands on my left shoulder.  I stuck the leg out a little so she had full access to it.  TM started gently working on it and I just melted.  I did a little flip so I landed on my back, leaning up against TM with her legs curled up supporting me.  I held out my leg and let TM massage it all over.  It felt wonderful.

Anytime I am hurting, TM will massage me all night long.  Every time I move, she wakes up and rubs on me some more.  By morning, she is pretty tired but I feel GREAT!  TM has done this for all of her dogs.  It is one of the perks we have because she is ours.

Kevin - I like sleeping on her lap.  I get my back rubbed on and I am asleep in no time. 

Lowri - I think we will keep her.

Building Fence

Lowri - TM is finally back to building fence.  She has to get it done so she can bring the ducks back here for a month.  Kevin helped her <snicker>

Kevin - I got to help!!!  I stole wood, I supervised the dig, I helped with the cement.  I even moved out of the way every time TM picked up the camera to document my help.  I had a great time!  I am going to help again tomorrow.  Whew, it is a good thing TM fed me again tonight.  I was starving!

Long Day

Lowri - Whew, we had a long day today.  TM took our four big lambs to market.  Unfortunately, market is over south of Nashville.  It took all day to take the lambs there and come home.

I got to help TM load the lambs.  She liked my help in putting the lambs in the small pen.  She liked my help loading the first two lambs.  But she did NOT appreciate my help with loading the last two.  It might have been because I was a bit too enthusiastic with my help.

To load a lamb, TM catches it in the small pen.  I help by standing at the gate to keep them in the corner.  Once she has caught it, she puts a leather collar on the lamb.  With the thick cotton lead rope, she moves the uncooperative lamb to the pen on the trailer.  I help by encouraging said lamb to move forward.  By the third lamb, I was fully enthusiastic.  TM started yelling at me to make me back off.   I didn't listen very well.  TM got run over a couple of times.   Oops...

When we went into the pen for the last lamb, I did not stay at the gate.  I forgot that TM has to catch the lamb before I can encourage it to move.  The lamb blasted through TM,  out the gate and then out the main gate into the open field.  TM said some blistering things to me.  She even said she was going to trade me in on a Border Collie.  I think she MEANT it!  TM finally got the lamb back in the arena and used grain (and me on a strategic sit/stay) to get him back into the little pen.  Whew, we finally got him loaded on the trailer.  I had NO idea we had such a long trip ahead of us.

TM drove and drove.  We finally got to the market place.  TM off-loaded the lambs (two guys helped her- as I was stuck in my crate).  She parked the rig so she could potty Kevin and me.  Boy, were there ever some interesting smells!  They have lots of livestock come through their market.  I wonder if they need a baddog Cardigan to help them?  I might have to look for a new job.

Kevin - I got to go too.  When we got home, I got my supper.  Then I went and bounced on the door.  To make sure TM understood, I sat and stared at the door.  It worked!  TM let us out so I could go play some more.  Life is good.

It's a Tennessee Alligator!

Lowri - Look what MC got a picture of in our swimming hole.  It's a Tennessee Alligator!!!

Oh wait, it is just me!!

Kevin - MC got a picture of me too.  I was herding!

Look how far I am from the sheep and they are still milling.  I have POWER!

We're Baaaack

Lowri - We are very sorry it has been so long since we have shared our story.  TM is having computer problems with her main PC.  It makes her cranky.  When she is cranky, she doesn't want to hear my thoughts.  I have had lots of thoughts, too.

Let's see...Last weekend we went to herding trials.  I had a BLAST!  I had so much fun, TM called my run on Saturday.  She was NOT pleased.  It really isn't fair, Dinah also had a BLAST - BOTH days!  But since she is in the Started class, TM was able to work with her and got her through the course.  I am in Intermediate and I had to work farther from TM.  Hence the BLAST <vbg>.  

TM made me do down stays all through HT and PT.  That was TOTALLY not fair!  I squirmed and whined.  TM didn't care.  She was not interested in my thoughts at all.  I finally gave up on Sunday (yes, she did it both days!), and just relaxed.  It was kind of funny, our run on Sunday was quite good.  Do you think maybe the down stays...naw, it was just a coincidence.

This weekend, MC went to the dog shows in Franklin, TN.  She went WITHOUT me!  That just doesn't happen!  Am I losing my good looks?  What is happening?

TM - Wah, wa, wa, wah.

Lowri - But, my coat is almost back in!  I am pretty again!  (sigh)  I guess I can wait until the end of the month.

MC got Major Reserves on Story both days.  I guess that is pretty good.  She is coming up tomorrow to get Dinah, who has been vacationing with us. 

TM took both Dinah and me out to herd.  She is focusing on what we really blew at the trials.  We had to do the basics - sit, stop and come - when there was stock in the arena with us.  Dinah really had a brain, um, brain,  uh...brain blowout.  TM told her every time she was right.  Poor Dinah, TM also insisted that she do the basics.  She says Dinah will be fine.  Tomorrow we are going to work with sheep rather than ducks.  TM thinks that Dinah will do better with sheep.

Papa Ron had a ramp built on the back of the house.  He said it is TM's birthday present - it cost a lot more than they had planned - oops.  TM laughed.  Her birthday isn't until November.  I didn't like the ramp on my first trip down it.  It is smooth and pretty slick.  PR says he will be putting a textured, rubber coating on it so it won't be slick.  I am pretty sure I will like it better then.  TM wanted the ramp so she doesn't have to carry Kevin outside any more.  Kevin isn't allowed to go down the stairs on his own until he is a year old.  TM carries him and he is getting heavy.

Kevin - Hi everyone.  I don't have many thoughts.   I will share them if I do have any.

Is It An Otter?

Lowri - MC got this picture today.  Is it an otter?

I'm smiling.  See my teeth?

No!  It's ME!

Kevin - MC also got a picture of me.

I'm four months old.

Fun, Fun, Fun

Lowri - We will get the bad stuff out of the way first.  Daisy has gone from the duck killer to the chicken killer.   PR let the chickens out to range yesterday and then didn't realize he missed one when he locked up.  Daisy did not miss it.  TM found the dead hen when she took us out for our evening walk last night.  She was NOT happy about it, she likes her chickens.

Now on to the fun stuff!  Kevin and I got to help TM fix the electric fence in the big field.  We climbed the hill with her and stayed close - until she got distracted.  Then we made sure TM got some rest breaks.  She had to stop working on the fence every time we disappeared.  We gave her a lot of breaks.  Kevin and I went on some mad tears.  I just felt so good!

We also got VERY muddy.  It was AWESOME.  When TM was done, we walked out of the field and went right by the waterhole.  I couldn't resist.  I jumped right in.

Kevin - I didn't jump in, I was PUSHED - and NOT by my mama.  I got even though, TM had to carry me past the cows.  She was soaked by the time she put me down.

Lowri - Then we went down to the clean water by the beaver dam.  I jumped in again.  It felt great.

Kevin - I got pushed in AGAIN.  It did feel pretty good though.